Guest Author - Gwendolyn Thompson
A job interview allows the hiring party to get a sense of who you are, therefore, your body language and voice tone along with the question and answer process will dictate to the hiring party if you are a good fit for the job. Being prepared will allow you to express your confidence.
Effective nonverbal signals will deliver concise answers and show your desire for the job. A good way to be prepared for your interview is to practice by role playing with others and video taping it so that you can review how you will be perceived by the interviewer.
As the old saying goes, “it is not what you say, but how you say it” and being prepared will allow you to build confidence that you are the best person for the job while allowing you to express how you feel to the interviewer through nonverbal techniques.
Good eye contact should be established during the interview while allowing a brief break to the left or right except when the interviewer is talking. Avoid looking up or down as this can indicate that you are bored or uninterested in what is being said and what is going on around you.
Sitting up straight with your hands in your lap relaxed and leaning forward slightly will convey confidence and control to your interviewer. Touching your face with your hands can show nervousness and uncertainty while touching your nose or lips can indicate that you are not being honest.
Speak in a clear and controlled voice to let the interviewer know that you are confident. Offer only positive points about yourself when answering questions while keeping the focus on what you have achieved in previous job related situations.
Use your body language and your voice tone to connect with your interviewer in a positive way while choosing the best words to capture how your contributions will be in the best interest of the company if you are chosen to fill the position.
